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Teacher accused of sex crimes against child; affidavit sealed

An arrest affidavit detailing allegations against a Nucla High School teacher arrested on suspicion of Internet sexual exploitation of a child remains under seal, according to Montrose County District Court.

Thomas Helmbrecht, 50, was arrested Wednesday after Montrose County Sheriff’s Department deputies executed a search warrant at his home, said spokeswoman Bobby McCoid of the Sheriff’s Department.

McCoid said some computers at the man’s home had been seized, but the contents of those computers hadn’t yet been viewed.

Internet sexual exploitation of a child is a felony.

Helmbrecht was not allowed to have contact with any female under age 18, including his own daughters, according to conditions instated by a judge during a court hearing Thursday, the Montrose Daily Press reported.

The Daily Press also reported the teacher admitted in court to being addicted to pornography and downloading free pornographic materials, and that items of a pornographic nature that had been tossed in a trash can had been linked to him.

A telephone message left on an answering machine Friday at Nucla Junior/Senior High School, inquiring about the teacher’s status, was not returned.